Paws Press

PURCHASE YOUR COMMEMORATIVE WALL TILE TODAY!

Would you like to pay tribute to a furry friend or family member? By purchasing a commemorative wall tile you can share a personal connection with ARF.

Each 6” x 6” tile accommodates a full color portrait photograph, artwork or logo, name, and phrase of choice. Commemorative tiles are available for a $250 tax deductible donation and will be placed permanently in ARF’s garden wall. Order your tile by June 30, 2008 and you will also receive a complimentary replica tile.

Proceeds from the wall tile campaign will be used to build ARF’s future: complete needed repairs to ARF’s shelter facilities to keep ARF’s animals safe and comfortable until ARF finds them new homes, and help grow ARF’s innovative programs to further ARF’s mission of people rescuing animals…animals rescuing people®. A limited number of wall tiles are available, and are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

This may be your last chance to leave your mark on ARF! Download the order form and reserve your tile today! For more information about the wall tile campaign or additional naming opportunities, please call (925) 296-3156 or email walltile@arf.net.

Don't miss this year's affordable Business of Saving Lives conference hosted at ARF's shelter on March 1-2, 2008. The conference agenda and registration form are available online.

Workshops are geared to provide practical information to manage cat and dog health, canine/feline behavior, and key business processes which can make any animal welfare organization thrive. Workshop topics are based directly upon feedback from last year's conference attendees.

During the month of February, express your love by giving an ARF animal a special valentine. My Furry Valentine was developed to help provide rescue and rehabilitation, essential care, food, shelter, spay-neuter, medical treatments, and most of all – time for each dog and cat to find a new loving home for life.

For a donation of $20 or more, ARF will place a valentine on the condo of the ARF dog or cat of your choice. Your valentine will feature the name of your furry valentine with a special Valentine’s Day wish from you.

Nugget says, “Won’t you be my Valentine?  Donate today!”

Be confident and prepared in the event of a pet medical emergency.

All classes are held at ARF, located at 2890 Mitchell Drive in Walnut Creek, California. The next session will take place on Thursday, February 21 and 28 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Sign up today, space is limited!

Kick Off Meeting – Wednesday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Ready…set…WALK! Mark your calendars and join ARF at the Paws on Parade kick-off meeting on Wednesday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m. at ARF's shelter to learn more about how you can "fun"draise for this exciting event. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP at pawsonparade@arf.net or (925) 296-3103.

ARF’s Paws on Parade fundraising dog walk at Animals on Broadway, will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, California. ARF’s goal is to raise over $50,000 to rescue even more animals and bring the healing touch of animals to more people in need. With your help, ARF can achieve its goal!

Walkers can register online and create their own fundraising web page to help raise much needed funds for ARF's life-saving programs. Kick off your fundraising efforts today by visiting www.firstgiving.com/tlrarf and create your fundraising page or register your friends, family, scout troops, class students, clubs or companies as a “Pack” and walk to save the lives of abandoned dogs and cats. As a reward for your good fundraising behavior, you will receive a bounty of great goodies along with a heartfelt thanks from ARF's furry friends.

Be ARF’s guest at a Wills & Trusts Seminar on February 7, 2008 at 6 p.m. at ARF's facility. Featured presenter Sarah S. Nix from Gagen McCoy will make wills and trusts understandable, practical and fun.

Enjoy a relaxing, informal setting and learn if you need a will. There is no charge to attend.

Karla Wiese, ARF's development manager, will discuss the Guardian Program and how to plan for your furry family members when you are no longer here to care for them.

Please RSVP to Karla at (925) 296-3103 or kwiese@arf.net.

Have FUN learning about animals!

Camp ARF is a perfect summer experience for children who love animals and are interested in learning more about them. Camp ARF promotes the values of humane education while strengthening the bond between animals and children.

ARF offers a variety of week long camp sessions for children grades 1-12. Register today before it's too late!

ARF's popular Smooch Your Pooch® shirt is now available in pink, just in time for Valentine's Day! This 100% cotton, long sleeved ladies shirt is a great way to support ARF and show your love for animals. 

FEBRUARY SPECIAL
Receive a complimentary 2008 ARF Celebrity Pet Calendar when you place an order in February totaling $30 or more. 

Having been an ARF volunteer since 2001, Joan Cunnings is well-known in the Animal Care Department. Joan volunteered as a cat cage cleaner when ARF was in temporary housing down the street from its current facility. Shortly after the new building opened, Joan was asked to help feed the cats. This is where she enjoys spending her volunteer time the most. She is able to visit with all of the felines when feeding them and offers each ARF cat words of encouragement and suggestions for showing off their adoptability.

At home, Joan has three cats, Jupiter, Miss O’ee and Miss S’ee (pronounced oh-ee and es-ee respectively). Miss O’ee and Miss S’ee were adopted from ARF. Joan had only planned on adopting one cat at the time, but O’ee and S’ee were sisters so of course she had to adopt them both.

Joan is a retired teacher which allows her time to spend with her four-legged children. Each cat even has their own bedroom at home. When she isn’t volunteering at ARF or catering to her kitties, Joan manages to squeeze in travels to Australia, New Zealand, China and other exciting destinations.

What do you like the most about volunteering at ARF?
I like the animals the best. I can’t have 40 cats at home, but I can feed and visit with 40 cats at ARF each week. I talk to each cat when I feed them. I give them advice on how to act when potential adopters come into their condos so they will be selected. I train them to get out of bed, walk towards the door, smile and look intelligent.

What is your most memorable experience?
I’d have to say it was when Miss O’ee and Miss S’ee (formerly known as Smokey and Oreo) followed my training tips so I would select them.

What would you say your motto is?
That’s easy. From high school to my 50th high school reunion, my motto has always been “Ask me and I’ll do it.”

We are grateful for Joan’s gift of time and her “cat coaching” is bound to improve adoptions!

For a complete listing of current volunteer needs, please visit ARF's volunteer opportunities page.

Thrift Store
Help support ARF's Emergency Medical Fund® for low income pet owners. Do you have retail or cash handling experience? The ARF Thrift Store business is booming and more help is needed pronto and training is provided.
What: Ring sales and serve customers at the ARF Thrift Store.
When: Monday, Wednesday or Saturday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. or Thursday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: 1950 Market Street, Suite H, Concord, California
Prerequisite: Completion of ARF’s volunteer orientation.
Contact: Gaye at gmcduff@arf.net.

Foster Care
Make a difference in the life of an ARF animal.
What: Open your home to an ARF shelter animal too young for spay/neuter surgery, or in need of a little TLC. ARF needs fosters for cats and dogs all year long. In addition, kitten season is approaching and ARF will need fosters to help care for litters of kittens.
When: One week to several months.
Where:Fosters care for the animals in their own home.
Prerequisite:Must be at least 18. Completion of ARF’s volunteer orientation and foster application required.
Contact:Kris at kpartello@arf.net.

Please note, all volunteers must attend a volunteer orientation prior to joining any training classes. If you would like more information on becoming a volunteer, please visit Volunteering at ARF.

Current volunteers, please use the volunteer central website if you would like to sign up for any of the listed classes. If you do not have access to volunteer central, please call (925) 296-3118 or email volrsvp@arf.net. Be sure to leave your name and number along with the class you wish to attend.

Flicker	Flicker is my name and tennis balls are my game. I've been perfecting retrieving for the past 7 years and I'm really good at it. I'm also a very gentle and mild mannered girl who enjoys quiet time when the game is over. If you're looking for a Labrador Retriever, I'm your girl. I can live in a home with children 10 years and older.
DSH Male looking for love. Enjoys sleeping in the sun, short walks to the food bowl, a clean litter box, snuggling on the sofa and purring sweet nothings in your ear. My name is Clyde and I'm in my prime at almost 2-years-old. I'm looking for that special someone who will appreciate me for my fabulous personality as well as beautiful markings. I would be happy to be your "one and only", or I can share you with other felines.		Clyde

Meet Flicker and Clyde at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive at Oak Grove Road in Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Noon - 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Find out more about how ARF's adoption program works.

Dear ARF,

Enclosed with my check in the amount of $100, are two photos of Shana (aka Shany, Little Girl, Kitty, etc.) with two of her best pals. We have had her for over a year now and love her dearly. She doesn't know how to "Meeow" but makes some little "Ha Ha" sounds, especially first thing in the morning. She always waits for me to wake up, then jumps up on my lap for some cuddling for ten to twenty minutes. She rarely gets on my lap at other times. I also sometimes call her my little Eidelweiss as she always seems so pleased to greet me when I wake up. Her favorite activity for exercise is to chase a string on a small stick which I hold, or to run up and down the apartment at top speed after we are in bed. 

We admire all the work that ARF does for the animals and are happy to be one of the rescuers. Thank you all for the wonderful work that you do. 

Sincerely,
Rosemary

FEBRUARY SPECIALS

ALL SKIRTS - $1 - Racks and racks of stylish skirts in all sizes, all fabrics. Your choice of any in the shop (except those on volunteer workers).

VALENTINE GIFTS - Large inventory of crystal, china, jewelry and lots of other awesome treasures at prices so low you can afford to be everyone's Valentine!

EASTER'S COMING - Easter is early this year. Come in and check out all the snazzy stuff the Big Rabbit has for you.

AND MORE BOOKS - Paperbacks - 10 cents; Hardbacks - 25 cents (special books a bit more).

Shop ARF's Thrift Store and Save Lives ...
Proceeds benefit ARF Emergency Medical Fund®!

Thrift Shop location:
1950H Market Street, Concord
Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Saturday
Donations gratefully accepted: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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